New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Dongirolre’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Dongirolre’ characterized by its relatively compact, upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; glossy and dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; medium to large ruffled flowers that are vivid red in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DONGIROLRE’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dongirolre’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely branching and early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with large attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2017 in Koka, Ethiopia of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Rococo Orange’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN15-579586-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. in April, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dongirolre’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dongirolre’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright to outwardly spreading and         uniformly mounding plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Glossy and dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Medium to large ruffled flowers that are vivid red in color.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Rococo Orange’. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Rococo Orange’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than and not as         vigorous as plants of ‘Rococo Orange’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are vivid red in color         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Rococo Orange’ are reddish orange         in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens flower earlier than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens have slightly smaller flowers         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are more ruffled and         undulating than flowers of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duemagfi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,912. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Duemagfi’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Impatiens are lighter green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘Duemagfi’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are more ruffled than         flowers of plants of ‘Duemagfi’.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens have slightly smaller flowers         than plants of ‘Duemagfi’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are darker red in         color than flowers of plants of ‘Duemagfi’.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Timor’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,144. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Timor’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Timor’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are more ruffled than         flowers of plants of ‘Timor’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are vivid red in color         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Timor’ are bright orange in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongirolre’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongirolre’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C., night temperatures averaged 20° C. and light levels ranged from 4,000 to 4,500 lux. Plants were 14 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dongirolre’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Impatiens hawkeri ‘Rococo Orange’,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN15-579586-001, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at day temperatures about 27° C. and night             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at day temperatures about 27° C.             and night temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright to             outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit;             broad inverted triangle in overall shape; freely branching             habit; bushy and dense appearance; moderately vigorous             growth habit and moderate growth rate; strong and sturdy             plants.         -   Plant height.—About 22 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 46 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with about six to eight             primary lateral branches each with multiple secondary             branches.         -   Length.—About 20 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 5.5 cm to 6 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to about 45° from vertical to             almost horizontal.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.         -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 148A heavily             overlain with between 183A and 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Typically in whorls or opposite; simple; leaves             are durable.         -   Length.—About 12 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: More green than             147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green than between             147A and N189A; midvein, proximally, close to 183A to 183B             and distally, close to 144A; and lateral venation, darker             green than between 147A and N189A. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 147B; midvein, close to 183A to             183B; and lateral venation, close to 183A to 183B.         -   Petiole length.—About 2.5 cm to 4 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Petiole texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.         -   Petiole color, upper surface.—Close to 144B overlain with             close to 183B.         -   Petiole color, lower surface.—Close to 183B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Medium to large ruffled             single axillary flowers that are rounded to slightly rounded             rectangular in shape; freely flowering habit, typically             about three to six flower buds and opened flowers per             lateral branch; flowers are positioned above and beyond the             foliar plane, flowers typically face mostly upright or             outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about four to seven             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin             flowering about ten weeks from unrooted cuttings.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color: Close to 144A variably overlain with close to 183A to             183B.         -   Flower diameter.—Medium to large, about 7.2 cm by 7.3 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2.75 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl with one banner petal, two lateral petals and             two lower petals. Length, banner petal: About 3.75 cm.             Length, lateral petals: About 3.6 cm. Length, lower petals:             About 3.5 cm. Width, banner petal: About 4.6 cm. Width,             lateral petals: About 4.9 cm. Width, lower petals: About             4.9 cm. Shape, all petals: Obcordate. Apex, all petals:             Emarginate. Base, all petals: Truncate to attenuate. Margin,             all petals: Entire; undulate and ruffled. Texture and             luster, all petals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy; iridescent. Color, all             petals: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 44A to 44B; color does not change with subsequent             development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 43A; midvein on banner, close to 144A; color does             not change with subsequent development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             two laterals are opposite and the third modified into an             elongated spur. Lateral sepal length: About 1.1 cm. Lateral             sepal width: About 7.5 mm. Lateral sepal shape: Broadly             deltoid to ovate. Lateral sepal apex: Acuminate. Lateral             sepal base: Truncate. Lateral sepal margin: Entire, not             undulate. Lateral sepal texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Lateral sepal             color, upper surface: Close to 144B to 144C; proximally,             tinged with close to N57A. Lateral sepal color, lower             surface: Close to 144A. Spurred sepal length (not including             spur): About 2 cm. Spurred sepal width (proximally): About             1.25 cm. Spurred sepal shape (proximally): Broadly ovate.             Spurred sepal base: Truncate. Spurred sepal margin             (proximally): Entire, not undulate. Spurred sepal texture             and luster (proximally), upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately glossy. Spurred sepal color             (proximally), upper surface: Close to 62D and towards the             apex, close to N57A. Spurred sepal color (proximally), lower             surface: Close to 62D variably overlain with close to N57A             and towards the apex, close to 144A. Spur length: About             4 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 2 5 mm; at apex, less             than 1 mm. Spur shape: Acicular, curved. Spur texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Spur color: Close to 59A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.75 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: About 45° to slightly arching. Strength: Strong;             flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color: Close to 59A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Filament length: About 3.5 mm.             Filament color: Close to 158A. Anther length: About 2 mm.             Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to N155B. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 158A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 3.5 mm.             Stigma shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style             length: About 2.5 mm. Style color: Close to 144A. Ovary             color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Impatiens     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Impatiens plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Dongirolre’ as illustrated and described. 